COVID-19

Because the city council vote wasn’t unanimous, the indoor vaccine mandate will stay in place at least another week.

Another spring pollen season coincides with high viral transmission.

BA.2 will likely become dominant in L.A., but officials don’t know when.

County health officials say treatments are being directed to hard-hit areas.

If the city council approves the measure, customers will no longer have to prove they're vaccinated to be indoors at restaurants, bars, gyms and other businesses.

The federal government owes community clinics in L.A. millions of dollars. If they don’t get reimbursed soon, some COVID-19 vaccine clinics could close.

But the county still 'strongly' recommends their use.

Barbara Ferrer, L.A. County's public health director, said she's waiting for the CDC's latest update on transmission, which is due out on Thursday.

The CDC recommends continued mask use in communities where serious cases of COVID-19 are straining the health system.

Long Beach and Pasadena will have more lenient regulations than the rest of the county.

The omicron BA.2 variant spreads about 30% more easily and has caused surges in other countries. Its steady increase in the U.S. raises questions about the wisdom of rolling back COVID restrictions.

Newsom’s health secretary unveiled a “SMARTER” preparedness plan, including stockpiling masks and tests. But has the state learned lessons from its erratic handling of the pandemic?